Clinton chides supporters on Kennedy  —  Hillary Clinton has told her supporters not to impede Caroline Kennedy's path to the U.S. Senate on her behalf, a person familiar with replacement discussions said.  —  The move clears a major obstacle between Kennedy and the seat.

Pelosi lays down the law with Rahm  —  In a recent conversation with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rahm Emanuel offered some advice on a Democratic House leadership race.  Pelosi's response, according to several Democratic sources: It is “an internal House Democratic Caucus matter, and we'll handle it.”

MEET ARNE DUNCAN, OBAMA'S EDUCATION PICK.  —  With the Democratic Party embroiled in internal debate over public school reform, it is very much like Barack Obama to tap Chicago public schools CEO Arne Duncan as education secretary.  Duncan is one of the only prominent education leaders …

Madoff bought influence in Washington  —  Within a day of the Dec. 11 arrest of Wall Street financier Bernard L. Madoff, his Washington lobbyists were scrambling to sever all ties to a man who's been accused of a $50 billion fraud and who may go down in history as the largest financial scam artist ever.

Senate recount: Battle of ballot disputes begins  —  A state board begins to rule on ballots where voter intent was in question in the hotly contested Senate race.  —  With thousands of frivolous challenges discarded, the state Canvassing Board today began the serious business of ruling …

Cheney admits authorizing detainee's torture  —  Outgoing VP says Guantanamo prison should stay open until end of terror war, but has no idea when that might be.  —  Monday, outgoing Vice President Dick Cheney made a startling statement on a nation-wide, televised broadcast.

Shoe thrower ‘beaten in custody’  —  The brother of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush has said that the reporter has been beaten in custody.  —  Muntadar al-Zaidi has suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury, his older brother, Dargham, told the BBC.

Rahm's calls on tape  —  The Blago scandal . . .  Sneed hears rumbles President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, is reportedly on 21 different taped conversations by the feds — dealing with his boss' vacant Senate seat!  —  A lot of chit-chat?  —  Hot air?  —  Or trouble?

BUNGLING ON BLAGO  —  TEAM BAM MISMANAGES MEDIA  —  Barack Obama is experiencing the first “scandal” of his presidency before he's taken office - or so sayeth the media.  —  Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is accused of (among much else) conspiring to sell or trade Obama's Senate seat for personal benefit.

Poll Finds Support for Obama's War Views  —  Less Pessimism on Iraq, But 70% Back Pullout  —  Americans are more upbeat about U.S. prospects in Iraq than at any time in the past five years, but nearly two-thirds continue to believe the war is not worth fighting and 70 percent …

Impeachment panel launches investigation  —  Updated by Ray Long at 11:55 a.m.  —  SPRINGFIELD—The House special committee investigating whether to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich began its work this morning with the 21 members getting a chance to speak about the somber and sober work ahead.

Majority of Public Opposes Auto Rescue  —  Poll Finds Most Blame Industry for Problems, Believe Failure Won't Hurt Economy  —  Most Americans continue to oppose a government-backed rescue plan for Detroit's Big Three automakers as majorities blame the industry for its own problems …

Former Blagojevich adviser Christopher Kelly to plead guilty  —  Another card may have fallen in the governor's house of cards.  Christopher Kelly - one of Gov. Blagojevich's closest advisers, fund-raisers and friends - is set to plead guilty in his federal criminal case, according to a court filing.

Newt denounces Blago attacks  —  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is denouncing Republican attempts to link President-elect Barack Obama and disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.  —  Senator John McCain Sunday distanced himself from Republican National Committee attacks on Obama …

An Empire of Sentimentality  —  I think this kind of sentiment from Dave Dilegge at the COIN hotspot Small Wars Journal reflects some dangerous trends in American culture: … Americans love and respect the men and women who volunteer for military service under our flag.

The Bulge  —  Goering, Hitler and Guderian survey plans for Wacht Am Rhein, a.k.a. The Battle of the Bulge, October 1944.  —  It began at dawn on Dec. 16, 1944, 64 years ago today, with rapid assaults through the Ardennes forest, as the Germans blitzed one last time, hoping to split the Allied armies and take Antwerp.

Juan Williams: Iraqi Protesters Are ‘Ingrate[s]’ Who Should Appreciate U.S. Invasion  —  Last night on “The O'Reilly Factor,” host Bill O'Reilly slammed Muntader al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush, and said that if he had been there, he “would have physically taken the guy down.”

CO-Senate: Salazar Departure Creates GOP Opportunity  —  The expectation that Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar will be nominated as Interior Secretary by President-elect Barack Obama presents Republicans with a prime pickup opportunity in a swing state, an early sign that their fortunes may be turning …